Confusion over the Carmelites

There is some slight confusion in GEN's references to the Carmelites (February 7). The "mother house". of the White Friars in this country is the priory at Aylesford (founded 1 2 4 2, refounded 1 9 4 9). Allington Castle, the Order's pastorial centre in the south, has belonged to the Order since 1951 only. The official name of the White Friars is the Order of the Brethren of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel; we are commonly known as Carmelites or Whitefriars. This has been so almost since the origins of the Order in England.
At the General Chapter of the Order held at Cremona in 1593 the Carmelites following the reform initiated in Spain by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross (both saints being by then dead) were given leave to separate juridically from the old Order and to form a new jurisdiction, with their own Constitutions and Superior General.
At roughly the same time a movement of reform was begun in the Touraine Province of the parent Order, under the influence of the Ven. Dominic of St Albert, the blind laybrother mystic the Ven. John of St Samson, and others. This reform eventually permeated the whole Order, without occasioning any further separations.
Both religious families are properly known as Carmelites; but it is sometimes necessary to distinguish between them. The Teresian Carmelites, as they are sometimes called, are properly known as Discalced (or Barefooted) Carmelites. For a very short time only, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the parent Order adopted the style of Calced (or Shod) Carmelites. This was found unsatisfactory, and was dropped over fifty years ago.
Since then, all documents from the Holy See relating to matters Carmelite designate us "Fratres B.V.M. de Monte Carmelo Antiquae Observantiae"; that is, Carmelites of the Ancient Observance. This, and
this alone, is our correct style and nomenclature.
The friars now resident at Ushaw are of the Discalced observance. May they flourish in c that stronghold of English Catholic tradition.
Brocard Sewell, 0.Carm. Wilfrid McGreal, 0.Carm. Allington Castle, Maidstone, Kent.
GEN and Fr McKee
GEN characterised Dutch traditionalists as self-righteous and inquisitors, which led me to urge care in his use of terms, noting that the traditionalists found support in the demands made by Rome for many changes in the Dutch catechism. GEN's reply (February 7) is to dismiss my letter as an academic lecturette on semantic niceties, "in no way related to Holland or the special developments in that country . . . . "
Admittedly. the letter related primarily to GEN's abrasive terms (as your heading showed), but is he not being disinGENuous? Is he suggesting that I located the Dutch wrongly, or am I witnessing what Geoffrey Household called delightfully "that slow rising of fury to the brain which the English call logic?"
(Fr) John McKee "Filairmore", Stanley Close, Cantley, Norwich,